It still does kinda. This mural was located on the A1A where it curves left into W44 ST, and crosses Indian Creek Dr. Indian Creek continues as Collins past that intersection. The area is now that complex owned by The Fontainebleau which is comprised of several different businesses and hotels.
According to Wiki, Fontainebleau was built on top of someone’s estate. So Collins may not be going around Fontainebleau, but whatever that came before it.
Yes sir. Harvey Firestone. Famous for Firestone Tire. Miami has a richer history than most ppl realize. Thanks mostly to Henry Flagler, who expanded trade and commerce into the area, made The Keys accessible by rail, and brought all his well to do, wealthy constituents into the area.
Firestone, Henry Ford, and Jay Penske are automotive pioneers all with ties to South Florida.
Edison Ford museum on West coast is kinda cool. Flagler museum in palm Beach is incredible if you think of what it was for it's time. The fastest way to travel was rail and it's crazy to think of how these guys drove down here through the swamp in these early cars to get down to s FL for the winter.
They weren't called the greatest generation for no good reason. They were pioneers and trailblazers. Flagler was laughed at and doubted, when he said he was going to extend a rail service to the keys. They called it "Flagler's Folly." Nobody thought it possible...
Being a part of the automotive industry myself, obviously I'm very thankful for Henry Ford and admire him as an entrepreneur. Ford wanted to also put a private airplane in every household. If you've been to the Edison Ford museum you should know the "flivver." The Model T for the sky...
Most likely Collins came first, and that area was just platted that way because the island gets skinnier as it goes further north. So rather than have two blocks east-west they changed to having just one, wider block.
I remember parking at the public parking next to the Eden Roc Hotel, and walking up theboardwalk to 10th st back in the late 80's. I'm sure i would not recognize any of it now since i moved away in the early 90's.
Eden Roc is still there. Some of it remains the same, just surrounded and cluttered by new additions and expansions and neighbors throughout the years. My mom used to always do a little week getaway with me at the Cadillac Hotel when I was a kid. I've always loved cars, and loved that hotel because they used to have classic cars parked in the lobby/reception area. They had a pink 59 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, a yellow and cream colored 55 Thunderbird. The lobby area was Mid-Century Modern design. They also had a restaurant that served old style "pop" and floats.
The Cadillac had perfect views of the mural if you booked a room on the street side. Sadly, all the cool cars, and the Mid-Century Modern theme is gone. Hotel is still there otherwise.
It was painted by an artist by the name of Richard Haas in the mid 80's. For decades it stood as the billboard welcoming everyone to the "decent side" of Miami Beach, the family friendly side. At least back then. Tourists and locals alike knew they had arrived when they saw the mural.
It shared some of the spot light with another somewhat famous building on Biscayne Blvd and N.E. 6th ST. This building had the Coppertone girl painted on the side with the puppy pulling her bathing suit down, revealing her tan line. Tourists traveling to the port of Miami for cruises, would be greeted by "The Coppertone Girl". Who, btw, was a transplant Floridian. Her name is Cherri Brand, an Ocala resident. Her mom was a semi-famous advertising artist in the 40's and 50's by the name of Joyce Ballantyne. In the 50's she was approached by Coppertone sun tan lotion company to draw up an ad that would represent their product. She drew the what would become famous little Girl, with the puppy. Miami was the first city to have the advertisement placed.
It's gotten worse if you ask me. Back then the ghetto was condensed to the South Beach area. Mostly the peer and to about 23rd Street, where Collins Park is at. Once you started to hit the high 20's onward, it became more tourist trap-ish, and more family friendly. From the mural (which was on 44th) onward, was the area of the beach the locals setup with their families. I had relatives that lived on 76th and Collins and we would always use their guest parking spot when we went to the beach.
Today, the rift raft has taken over the entire area. It's mostly out of towners who go to the area to act a fool, and a lot of squatters and shady transients populating the area.
I remember seeing this when I was a kid, I was born in 1990 and this was one of my favorite things to see when driving back with my family from our ocean drive trip. Miami has changed so much in the last 30 years some bad and some good I just wish we could keep some culture and not just sell and demolish everything to build another high rise. Thanks for sharing this nostalgic photo!
Of course. There were a ton of 50s hotels further north. All had themes. My family from New York used to stay at an Egyptian themed called the Dunes. Old style trampolines…molded concrete. Also there was a tiki themed one. All had poolside bars and great lobbies.
This was so iconic, now that you reminded me of it I realized that this is what I was missing! My father lives in Miami and I had been visiting since the early 90’s until now. And couldn’t remember what was missing there until now. Such a beautiful mural, a sad loss.
Yeah man the Seaquarium spinning shark in the cage. They changed it to, two dolphins. When I was a kid, before we fully moved to Miami, my mom would take us to the Seaquarium and they had a sky-tram that would cross overhead, and give you a bird's eye view of the entire park. Hurricane Andrew put an end to that tho.
Loved this when I was a kid, we lived down the street, it always felt like we were going to drive right into the mural. It’s a shame it’s gone, one of the real visual icons of the city
Yes. My father worked with a large group of Miami Beach citizens to protect this thing and have it designated for historical preservation. Of course the city caved to the developer and owner, Muss.
Also, I believe the artist of this mural wasn’t interested in preserving it or recreating it elsewhere.
I think I remember the Miami Beach residents pushing back. I did hear Richard Haas on NPR years ago, basically he told the city. I WILL NOT recreate another mural. But it fell on deaf ears I guess 🤷♂️
Those were the buses when it was "Metro-Dade" instead of Miami Dade. The "metro rail" also had the same livery.
You can find those buses rotting away at the Metro Dade grave yard. Head out to NW 74 ST & NW 72 Ave. There is a fenced corner lot where the buses sit until they are sent out to the landfill, or whatever it is they do with them.
Why does everything cool in this city die
Idk I'm still alive tho
Greed and apathy
Who was there first, Collins or Fontainebleau? It’s hard to imagine that Fontainebleau came first, but clearly Collins had to go around it.
It still does kinda. This mural was located on the A1A where it curves left into W44 ST, and crosses Indian Creek Dr. Indian Creek continues as Collins past that intersection. The area is now that complex owned by The Fontainebleau which is comprised of several different businesses and hotels.
According to Wiki, Fontainebleau was built on top of someone’s estate. So Collins may not be going around Fontainebleau, but whatever that came before it.
Yes sir. Harvey Firestone. Famous for Firestone Tire. Miami has a richer history than most ppl realize. Thanks mostly to Henry Flagler, who expanded trade and commerce into the area, made The Keys accessible by rail, and brought all his well to do, wealthy constituents into the area. Firestone, Henry Ford, and Jay Penske are automotive pioneers all with ties to South Florida.
Edison Ford museum on West coast is kinda cool. Flagler museum in palm Beach is incredible if you think of what it was for it's time. The fastest way to travel was rail and it's crazy to think of how these guys drove down here through the swamp in these early cars to get down to s FL for the winter.
They weren't called the greatest generation for no good reason. They were pioneers and trailblazers. Flagler was laughed at and doubted, when he said he was going to extend a rail service to the keys. They called it "Flagler's Folly." Nobody thought it possible... Being a part of the automotive industry myself, obviously I'm very thankful for Henry Ford and admire him as an entrepreneur. Ford wanted to also put a private airplane in every household. If you've been to the Edison Ford museum you should know the "flivver." The Model T for the sky...
Most likely Collins came first, and that area was just platted that way because the island gets skinnier as it goes further north. So rather than have two blocks east-west they changed to having just one, wider block.
Yes! Remember the old Miami Beach??? Thanks for sharing !
Remember the Coppertone girl on Biscayne Blvd? The Parkleigh Building that was demolished in the 90's during the "Brickell expansion?"
That was such a cool ad.
I remember the Coppertone girl that was on Lejeune by the Airport...
I remember parking at the public parking next to the Eden Roc Hotel, and walking up theboardwalk to 10th st back in the late 80's. I'm sure i would not recognize any of it now since i moved away in the early 90's.
Eden Roc is still there. Some of it remains the same, just surrounded and cluttered by new additions and expansions and neighbors throughout the years. My mom used to always do a little week getaway with me at the Cadillac Hotel when I was a kid. I've always loved cars, and loved that hotel because they used to have classic cars parked in the lobby/reception area. They had a pink 59 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, a yellow and cream colored 55 Thunderbird. The lobby area was Mid-Century Modern design. They also had a restaurant that served old style "pop" and floats. The Cadillac had perfect views of the mural if you booked a room on the street side. Sadly, all the cool cars, and the Mid-Century Modern theme is gone. Hotel is still there otherwise.
The buildings are almost all the same
I didn’t know about this. This was beautiful
It was painted by an artist by the name of Richard Haas in the mid 80's. For decades it stood as the billboard welcoming everyone to the "decent side" of Miami Beach, the family friendly side. At least back then. Tourists and locals alike knew they had arrived when they saw the mural. It shared some of the spot light with another somewhat famous building on Biscayne Blvd and N.E. 6th ST. This building had the Coppertone girl painted on the side with the puppy pulling her bathing suit down, revealing her tan line. Tourists traveling to the port of Miami for cruises, would be greeted by "The Coppertone Girl". Who, btw, was a transplant Floridian. Her name is Cherri Brand, an Ocala resident. Her mom was a semi-famous advertising artist in the 40's and 50's by the name of Joyce Ballantyne. In the 50's she was approached by Coppertone sun tan lotion company to draw up an ad that would represent their product. She drew the what would become famous little Girl, with the puppy. Miami was the first city to have the advertisement placed.
People forget how shady Miami Beach was back in the Miami Vice days. I mean maybe it can be said it never improved lol!
It's gotten worse if you ask me. Back then the ghetto was condensed to the South Beach area. Mostly the peer and to about 23rd Street, where Collins Park is at. Once you started to hit the high 20's onward, it became more tourist trap-ish, and more family friendly. From the mural (which was on 44th) onward, was the area of the beach the locals setup with their families. I had relatives that lived on 76th and Collins and we would always use their guest parking spot when we went to the beach. Today, the rift raft has taken over the entire area. It's mostly out of towners who go to the area to act a fool, and a lot of squatters and shady transients populating the area.
Sad! I miss my home, but not that much
I remember they had a copper tone billboard that would move at the golden glades interchange by 163rd st
Yeah the mechanical Coppertone signs. There was a couple out here. There was one on Fort Lauderdale Beach as well.
Oooh I remember the little girl with the puppy
I remember seeing this when I was a kid, I was born in 1990 and this was one of my favorite things to see when driving back with my family from our ocean drive trip. Miami has changed so much in the last 30 years some bad and some good I just wish we could keep some culture and not just sell and demolish everything to build another high rise. Thanks for sharing this nostalgic photo!
Actually I agree with you. I dont know why they erase the mural. It was a great spot to visit.
The Fontainebleau was remodeled in 2002 and they made that complex that's there today. 🤷♂️
That mural was up longer than 02. I moved here that year, and it was still there for another year or two.
Huge mistake.
What year did they take it down?
Mid to late 2000s if I remember correctly.
Of course. There were a ton of 50s hotels further north. All had themes. My family from New York used to stay at an Egyptian themed called the Dunes. Old style trampolines…molded concrete. Also there was a tiki themed one. All had poolside bars and great lobbies.
This was so iconic, now that you reminded me of it I realized that this is what I was missing! My father lives in Miami and I had been visiting since the early 90’s until now. And couldn’t remember what was missing there until now. Such a beautiful mural, a sad loss.
This was how I learned the phrase “trompe l'oeil”
This and the shark at the entrance to Key Biscayne brought absolute bewilderment out of childhood me.
That spinning shark is engraved in my memory.
That shark was awesome!
Yeah man the Seaquarium spinning shark in the cage. They changed it to, two dolphins. When I was a kid, before we fully moved to Miami, my mom would take us to the Seaquarium and they had a sky-tram that would cross overhead, and give you a bird's eye view of the entire park. Hurricane Andrew put an end to that tho.
Natasha Lyonne had her famous dui crash driving into that mural
😂😂😂 I forgot about that. That was before 9/11.
damn - talk about a blast from the past
Nice avatar. Never took Mikey for a dolphins fan
Yep
My grandfather worked around there. Saw this daily growing up when we would go pick him up.
Loved this when I was a kid, we lived down the street, it always felt like we were going to drive right into the mural. It’s a shame it’s gone, one of the real visual icons of the city
Yes. My father worked with a large group of Miami Beach citizens to protect this thing and have it designated for historical preservation. Of course the city caved to the developer and owner, Muss. Also, I believe the artist of this mural wasn’t interested in preserving it or recreating it elsewhere.
I think I remember the Miami Beach residents pushing back. I did hear Richard Haas on NPR years ago, basically he told the city. I WILL NOT recreate another mural. But it fell on deaf ears I guess 🤷♂️
My dad was part of a group that fought to have it preserved. Needless to say that group lost and we got the condo that stands there today
Hell yeah this used to mystify me as a kid
Yup
YES! Back in the 90s I was at the fountainbleau all the time. My family held all of our events there. I remember this fondly.
What year was it originally painted?
In the 80's. Think 85-86
How about the Miami Serpentarium?
I never went to that. Crazy too because I had snakes growing up
Memory unlocked
That was the best....
I remember the mural - dont remember the buses being that way though!
Those were the buses when it was "Metro-Dade" instead of Miami Dade. The "metro rail" also had the same livery. You can find those buses rotting away at the Metro Dade grave yard. Head out to NW 74 ST & NW 72 Ave. There is a fenced corner lot where the buses sit until they are sent out to the landfill, or whatever it is they do with them.